India Women have a good chance to complete an ODI series win in England for the first time since 1999 when they take on the hosts in the second game of the three-match series on Wednesday. Having lost the preceding T20I series 1-2, India will back themselves to reverse the result in the one-dayers after their confident victory in the first match. The seven-wicket win at Hove on Sunday should infuse enough confidence in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side to go for the kill in Canterbury.
That England are missing some of the key players will also add to India’s advantage. In 1999, the Indian team had won the ODI series 2-1, with Anjum Chopra striking a hundred and a half-century. This time Smriti Mandhana may have to play a crucial role if India are to overcome the hosts.
Mandhana made a sparkling 99-ball 91 on Sunday and the team will again look to her for a good start. Riding on her stupendous show against England, Mandhana on Tuesday achieved a career-best world No.2 rank in T20Is and climbed to the seventh spot in ODIs in the latest ICC Women’s Player Rankings.
The left-handed batter had aggregated 111 runs in the T20I series. Along with Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet and ’keeper-batter Yastika Bhatia had also got runs in the first game and that is the reason why the Indian batting unit would fancy their chances on Wednesday.
A series win also be a gift for senior bowler Jhulan Goswami, who in all likelihood is playing her last one-dayers. The 39-year-old former India captain is still the best bowler in the team, as she showed at Hove, returning figures of 10-2-20-1.
Needless to say that if India are to win, she too will have to play a crucial role. Harmanpreet, however, will be expecting the middle-order to step up and also hope that opener Shafali Verma returns to form. England, on the other hand, will bank on their batters, especially Sophia Dunkley, who had a successfulT20I series. Dunkley and Alice Capsey looked dangerous in Hove before a one-handed catch by Harmanpreet broke the partnership and triggered a collapse.
Match starts: 5.30pm IST, Live on Sony Six
